Washing machine with fluid circulating propellers



E. V. ASHBY WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPELLERS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10, 1956 Filed Nov. '7, 195] in m I 65 ea .35

"4.51 5 l- 4 4r J /4 40 a2 m 30 \\V\ m L 4' 56 3/ J6 --43 f v J 5 4IZLZZA J xfl'kb y INVENTOR,'

BY ATTORNEYS.

July 10, 1956 E. v. H Y 2,753,708

WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPEZLLERS Filed Nov. '7, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 2 34 ZZZ'fls7L2?y INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 10, 1956 E, v,ASHBY 2,753,708

WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID CIRCULATING PROPELLEIRS Filed Nov. '7, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 3 55 34 /a 1;. u fldhy INVENTOR BY 1 I ATTORNEYS.

2,753,708 1 Fatented July 10, 1956 WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUIDCIRCULATING PROPELLERS Elvie V. Ashby, Miami, Fla.

Application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,305

Claims. (Cl. 68-190) This invention relates to washing machineconstruction, and aims to provide a washing machine which willthoroughly wash articles without the necessity of using agitators ormovable members that contact the articles being washed, commonly used inwashing machine construction, and which cause excessive wear of thearticles being washed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a washing machinewherein the washing fluid or water contained in the tub of the washingmachine is caused to swirl and at the same time caused to movevertically, the water propulsion means reversing the movement of thewater at predetermined intervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for regulating themovement of the water propulsion means to prevent a too rapid movementof the water or washing fluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a baflie plateagainst which the water is directed and which sprays the water orcleaning fluid evenly in all directions, reversing the flow of waterfrom a circular path to a lateral path towards the outer Walls of thetub, where the water or washing fluid will be directed downwardly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a washing machineconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5designates the washing machine tub, which is supported on the legs 6.

The cover of the tub is indicated by the reference character 7 and fitsover the top of the tub closing the tub, as shown by Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

Mounted within the washing machine tub 5 is the upright cylinder 10,which is of a diameter appreciably smaller than the diameter of the tub5 providing a washing compartment 11 between the cylinder and tub.

The cylinder is supported by means of the legs 12 which connect with thecylinder adjacent to the lower end thereof, the legs 12 being welded orotherwise connected to the bottom 14 of the tub.

I The bottom 14 provides a support for the cylinder 10 which is, spacedan appreciable distance above the bottom, the bottom 14 being of adiameter so that it extends beyond the wall of the cylinder 10 and restson the inwardly extended flange 13 formed on the tub 5. The portion ofthe bottom 14 directly under the cylinder 10 is solid, while the portionof the bottom between the cylinder wall 10 and wall of the tub 5, isperforated, communication between the washing compartment 11 andinterior of the cylinder 10 being through the perforations of the bottom14.

At the upper end of the cylinder 10 is the baffle 15 which is providedwith an outwardly flared wall 16, the wall 16 being formed withelongated openings 17 adjacent to the upper edge thereof, which openingsestablish communication between the cylinder 10 and compartment 11 atthe upper end of the compartment 11. Rivets 18 secure the baflle 16 tothe disc 19 that closes the upper end of the cylinder 5, the disc 19being held in place by means of the bolts 20.

Formed in the disc 19 are valve openings that are fitted with rings 21providing valve seats at the upper and lower ends of the rings 21 andagainst which the disc valves 22 and 22' seat in controlling the passageof fluid through the valve openings. The disc valves 22 and 22 aresecured to the opposite ends of the valve stems 23' the stems movingthrough the spiders 23 secured within the rings 21. Coiled springs 24'are disposed on opposite sides of the spiders 23 and engage said discvalves normally holding the valves open. The upper disc valves 22 arethreaded on the upper ends of the valve stems 23 so that the valves maybe readily disassembled for servicing or repair. The valves 22 closewith pressure of rinsing water directed to the washing compartment. Thevalves 22 close upon flow of the washing fluid or water in the oppositedirection.

Disposed between the baffle 15 and upper end of the cylinder 10, aredownwardly curved baflie rings 24, which baffle rings are held in spacedrelation with respect to each other, by the bars 25 that are welded tothe upper end of the cylinder 10. These balfle rings 24 guard againstthe articles being washed, clogging the valves 22 to prevent theoperation of the valves.

Disposed adjacent to the top of the cylinder 10 and resting directlyover the upper end of the cylinder 10, is the ring 26, which ring isheld in place by means of the pins 27 that are secured to the uppersurface of the ring, the pins 27 passing through openings formed in thebaffle 15, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings. These pins 27have heads 28 that restrict downward movement of the pins and ring 26,under the action of the coiled springs 29 which are disposed between thebaffle 15 and rings 26.

The legs 12 also provide supports for the upwardly curved baflierings 30which are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other,directly above the bottom 14. Due to this construction it will be seenthat communication between the lower portion of cylinder 10 andcompartment 11 is established through the spaces between the bafflerings 30.

The tub 5 is provided with a central opening through which the shaft 31extends, there being provided packing .32 to provide a water sealbetween the bottom 14 and shaft 31. Mounted on the upper end of theshaft 31 is the disc 32 which is formed with openings providing bearingsfor the horizontal shafts 33 to which the propellers 34 are secured.These propellers 34 which are hollow are of a novel construction andembody spaced walls 35, the front and rear ends of the propellers beingopen, so that water or cleaning fluid may pass therethrough, the detailconstruction of these propellers being illustrated in Fig. 8 of thedrawings. As shown,jthe front and rear ends of the upper and lowerwallsof the propellers, are curved outwardly at 36 sothat as these propellersmove in a rotary direction, the outwardly curved ends will tend to scoopthe water or cleansing fluid, for purposes to be hereinafter more fullydescribed. Spring arms 37 extend upwardly from the upper wall of eachpropeller, while the spring arms 38 extend downwardly from the lowerwall of each propeller.

Thus, it will be seen that as the propellers 34 move upwardly, thespring arms 37 will contact with the ring 26 causing the propellers totilt so that they will scoop up water or washing fluid within theupright cylinder 10, causing the propellers and shaft 31 to movedownwardly. When the propellers reach the limit of their downwardmovement, the spring arms 38 will engage the ring 39, which is mountedon the upper end of the bellows 40, that in turn is secured to thebottom 14, the bellows surrounding the portion of the shaft 31,extending through the bottom 14. The bellows 49 has an open upper endand provides a cushion for the propellers as they move to the limit oftheir downward movement. As the arms 38 engage ring 39, it will be seenthat the propellers will tilt in the opposite direction so thatcontinued rotation of the propellers will cause the propellers to againrise to the top of the cylinder 10, causing a circulation of the waterthrough the cylinder 10, from the bottom.

Secured to the bottom 41 of the washing machine tub, are supporting arms42, to which the electric motor 43 is secured, the electric motor havingits armature shaft 44 formed with an elongated opening 45 in which thepin 46 secured to the shaft 31, slides. Thus it will be seen that whilethe motor 43 operates to rotate shaft 31, the shaft 31 is also free tomove vertically through the shaft 44.

The shaft 31 is of a length to extend into the cylinder 47 mounted onthe bar 48 secured to opposite legs 6 of the washing machine. Thiscylinder 47 is provided with a by-pass pipe 49 that has connection withthe cylinder 47 at the upper end thereof at 50, while the opposite orlower end of the pipe 49 connects with the lower end of the cylinder 47,at 51. A control valve 52 is mounted in the pipe 49, and by regulatingthe valve 52 the flow of fluid through the pipe 49 may be controlled.

Secured to the lower end of the shaft 31 is the hollow piston 53 inwhich the bearing disc 54, carried at the lower end of the shaft 31operates, there being provided ball bearings 55 disposed between theupper and lower surfaces of the disc 54 and the upper and lower walls ofthe hollow piston 53, permitting the free rotary movement of the shaft31 and disc 54, with respect to the cylinder. Thus it will be seen thatthe disc 54 moving within the cylinder will regulate the speed ofreciprocation of said disc 32 and propellers with the result that thecirculation of cleaning fluid through the cylinder and tub will becontrolled.

As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the bottom 14 is secured in spacedrelation with the bottom 41, by means of spacers 56, the space betweenthe bottom 14 and bottom 41, providing the drain space by means of whichwater or washing fluid may be drained from the compartment 11, throughthe drain valves 57.

In operation, the cover 7 and disc 19 will be removed and the clothes tobe washed placed in the compartment 11. The necessary quantity of wateror washing fluid will now be placed in the tub 5, and the disc 19,together with the elements supported thereby, will be replaced. Theelectric circuit to the motor 43 will now be completed causing rotationof the shaft 31, which willimmediately be caused to rise within thecylinder 10, cansing a circulation of the water or cleaning fluidthrough the cylinder 10, agitating articles to be washed.

As previously indicated, when the propellers reach the upper end of thecylinder 10, the positions of the propellers will be reversed, to theendthat continued rotation of the shaft 31 will cause the propellers tomove downwardly reversing the circulation of water to thoroughly cleansethe articles being washed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, an upright open-ended cylinder mountedwithin the tub, legs connected to one end of the cylinder resting on thebottom of said tub supporting said cylinder in spaced relation with thetub, establishing communication between the tub and cylinder for thecirculation of washing fluid through said cylinder, a vertical shaft insaid cylinder and projecting therebelow, a horizontal disc within saidcylinder mounted on said vertical shaft to move therewith, said dischaving openings, horizontal shafts extending across said openingscentrally thereof, vertically swinging hollow openended propellerspivotally mounted on said shafts within said openings, a motor forrotating said vertical shaft and disc within said cylinder, spring armssecured to said propellers a contact ring disposed at each end of thecylinder for engaging said spring arms associated therewith, tiltingsaid hollow propellers alternately in opposite directions, extending theopen ends of the propellers above and below the disc for agitating andscooping washing fluid as the disc rotates, said motor having a tubulararmature shaft and said vertical shaft being slidable but nonrotatablerelative to said armature shaft, rotation of said disc and verticalshaft effecting reciprocation of said disc and propellers within thecylinder, and means for regulating the speed of reciprocation. of thedisc.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a vertical open-ended cylinder mountedwithin the tub, in spaced relation with the bottom of the tub, groups ofvertically spaced horizontal baffle rings secured to the upper and lowerends of said upright cylinder, between which washing fluid circulates inpassing through said cylinder, a vertical rotatable propeller shaftextending into said cylinder, a horizontal disc having openings, securedon the upper end of said shaft and operating within said cylinder, amotor, a slidable connection between said motor and said shaft wherebysaid shaft and disc may move endwise with rotation thereof, open-endedpropellers within said openings, shafts extending transversely throughsaid openings on which said propellers are mounted and means forintermittently tilting said propellers vertically in opposite directionsalternately elevating their opposite ends above said disc whereby saiddisc and propellers are reciprocated within said cylinder.

3. In a washing machine, a tub having a main bottom, a false bottomsecured within the tub and spaced from the main bottom, said falsebottom having a solid central portion and having perforations betweenthe solid central portion and wall of said tub, a vertical cylinderdisposed within said tub resting on the false bottom directly over 'thesolid portion of the false bottom in spaced relation therewith, groupsof spaced baffle rings secured to the upper and lower ends of thecylinder between which cleaning fluid flows, a vertical shaft in saidcylinder, a power member for rotating said shaft, means connecting saidshaft with said power member whereby said shaft may move endwise withrotation thereof, a plurality of hollow reversible propellers in saidcylinder, means rockably connecting said propellers with said shaft,said propellers in one position thereof effecting upward movement ofsaid shaft and in another position thereof effecting downward movementof said shaft, and means in said cylinder adjacent the upper and lowerends thereof for reversing the position of said propellers.

4. In a washing machine, a tub having a main bottom and a falseperforated bottom, spaced from the main bottom, a vertical cylinderclosed at its upper end, mounted on the false bottom inspaced relationtherewith, groups of spaced baffle rings secured to the upper and lowerends of the cylinder between which cleaning fluid is circulated, a dischaving openings, means for rotating said disc within said cylinder,hollow open-ended substantially horizontally disposed propellerspivotally mounted within the openings of said disc, the ends of saidpropellers extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of said disc,adapted to scoop cleaning fluid as the disc rotates, alternatelyexerting upward and downward pressure against said propellers, movingthe disc and propellers vertically within the cylinder from one end ofthe 5 cylinder to the other end thereof, circulating the cleaning fluidthrough the cylinder and tub.

5. The subject matter as set forth in claim 4 and means for regulatingthe speed of vertical movement of said disc. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,119,995 Sibson et a1. Dec. 8, 1914 15 6 Wayland Sept. 28, 1926 BurryAug. 11, 1936 Rocke Feb. 28, 1939 Allwood July 16, 194-0 FOREIGN PATENTSGreat Britain Oct. 22, 1931 OTHER REFERENCES

